WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) announced Friday nearly $950,000 in federal grant funding for Tupelo Regional Airport improvements.
The Tupelo Airport Authority has been granted $948,223, of which $829,179 is from FY2016 appropriated funding provided by Congress for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airport safety and infrastructure.
Senator Cochran said this is money that is desperately needed.
“I’m pleased to see the Federal Aviation Administration make this investment in the Tupelo Regional Airport. Continuing improvements at the airport can help increase economic development and connectivity throughout Northeast Mississippi,” Cochran said.
Senator Wicker said this is room for improvement for all of North Mississippi.
“These funds represent a commitment by the federal government to improve Tupelo Regional Airport’s existing infrastructure,” Wicker said. “The FAA grants help to ensure that passengers in North Mississippi continue to have access to affordable, safe air travel.”
The FAA Airport Improvement Program funding for Tupelo will go toward re-doing the taxiway and runway, which will improve safety and performance for the passengers. The goal of the work is to maintain the structural integrity of the existing taxiway.
Last year, Cochran and Wicker, along with U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), announced a similar $716,779 grant for runway safety improvements, fencing installation and runway rehabilitation at the Tupelo airport.
